French Conversation Course I: Art History

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This French conversation course is designed for intermediate or advanced students who are wishing to practice the French language by exploring and discussing Art masterpieces in a relaxed atmosphere. We will be reviewing renowned artists and their paintings, using technical terms and structural device to describe the art work as well as discussing the context in which it was created. Developed to enhance both listening and speaking skills.

Aims

This course focuses on the main modalities of the language: speaking, listening and reading, as well as knowledge of visual art and the skills of collaboration and critical thinking. This course will seek to develop participants understanding and fluency, as well as assisting them in acquiring knowledge on Art History by reviewing key artists and their relevant artworks.

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this coure, participants should be able to:

Understand Art History by exploring key characteristics of a wide range of relevant artists and their works of art.

Expand their vocabulary through the introduction of a specific terminology and syntax used in describing representational and abstract paintings. The participants will be given a template to be used in each class.

Participate in engaging and challenging dialogues and share their point of view with the audience.

Content

Each class is individually constructed to respond to the participants' demands. Some artists will be proposed by the tutor, though participants will be able to request specific artists they would like to study.

The first introductory class will present a specific format to discuss each art work and the introduction of a technical vocabulary. During this class, an artist will be chosen by each participant to be covered over the program of the course. Over the following seven sessions, each artist selected will be presented. Prior preparation will be required by each student to present one work of art. A more communicative approach will then be followed to discuss additional art work from that artist as well as the historical context.

Intended Audience

This course is suitable for intermediate to advanced french language speakers (B1 – 210 hours of study) who have completed French courses up to 301, as the technical vocabulary will be discussed prior to discussion and the conversation can be done in shorter sentences without having to use complex grammatical structures.

Delivery Style

Delivered as an interactive tutorial where student participation is encouraged.